Sample preparation container and method

Abstract

A system and method for preparing and analyzing samples. The system can include a sample preparation system and a sample detection system coupled to the sample preparation system. The sample preparation system can include a deformable self-supporting receptacle comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent. The sample detection system can be positioned in fluid communication with the reservoir, and can be adapted to analyze a sample of the liquid composition for an analyte of interest. The system can further include a fluid path defined at least partially by the reservoir and the sample detection system. The method can include applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle to move a sample of the liquid composition in the fluid path to the sample detection system, and analyzing the sample for the analyte of interest with the sample detection system.

What claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for preparing samples and analyzing samples for an analyte of interest, the system comprising:
 a sample preparation system comprising:
 a freestanding container comprising a first reservoir, 
 a deformable self-supporting receptacle dimensioned to be received in the first reservoir of the freestanding container and comprising a second reservoir, the freestanding container being more rigid than the deformable self-supporting receptacle, the second reservoir adapted to contain a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent, wherein the deformable self-supporting receptacle is freestanding, 
 the freestanding container including a base comprising an aperture formed therein through which the deformable self-supporting receptacle can be accessed; 
 
 a sample detection system coupled to the sample preparation system, the sample detection system positioned in fluid communication with the second reservoir of the deformable self-supporting receptacle, the sample detection system adapted to analyze a sample of the liquid composition for the analyte of interest; and 
 a fluid path defined at least partially by the second reservoir and the sample detection system. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample preparation system further comprises a lid adapted to be coupled to at least one of the freestanding container and the deformable self-supporting receptacle, and wherein the sample detection system is coupled to the lid of the sample preparation system. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample preparation system further comprises a filter in fluid communication between the second reservoir and the sample detection system and adapted to filter the liquid composition to form a filtrate, and wherein the sample includes at least a portion of the filtrate. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample preparation system further comprises a plunger, at least a portion of the plunger being dimensioned to be received in the first reservoir to compress the deformable self-supporting receptacle. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable self-supporting receptacle includes a sidewall, and wherein the sidewall includes at least one fold adapted to allow the sidewall to collapse. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample detection system includes at least one of a lateral flow device, chemistry for isothermal RNA amplification, an optical device, an RNA molecular probe, a DNA molecular probe, a culture device, an ATP detection device, an agglutination device, an amplification device, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample detection system is adapted to detect a characteristic of the sample, and wherein the characteristic includes at least one of color change, fluorescence, luminescence, turbidity, electrical conductivity, voltage change, light absorption, light transmission, pH, a change in physical phase, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample detection system is adapted to detect at least one of  Salmonella  spp.,  Acinetobacter  spp.,  Vibrio  spp.,  Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium difficile , methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus , vancomycin-resistant  Enterococcus , Norovirus, Norwalk virus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample detection system is adapted to detect at least one of staphylococcal enterotoxin,  Bacillus  diarrheal toxin,  Clostridium difficile  toxin, aflatoxin, peanut allergen, egg allergen, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sample delivery system positioned in fluid communication between the second reservoir and the sample detection system, wherein the fluid path is further defined by the sample delivery system, and wherein the sample delivery system is adapted to control the movement of the sample from the sample preparation system to the sample detection system. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sample delivery system includes a valve adapted to control the flow of the liquid composition between the second reservoir and the sample detection system. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sample delivery system includes a volumetric metering device. 
     
     
       13. A method for preparing samples and analyzing samples for an analyte of interest, the method comprising:
 providing a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent; 
 providing a sample preparation system comprising a deformable self-supporting receptacle dimensioned to be received in a freestanding container, the freestanding container being more rigid than the deformable self-supporting receptacle, the deformable self-supporting receptacle comprising a reservoir, wherein the deformable self-supporting receptacle is freestanding, the freestanding container including a base comprising an aperture formed therein through which the deformable self-supporting receptacle can be accessed; 
 providing a sample detection system coupled to the sample preparation system and in fluid communication with the reservoir; 
 providing a fluid path defined at least partially by the reservoir and the sample detection system; 
 positioning the liquid composition in the reservoir; 
 applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle to move a sample of the liquid composition in the fluid path to the sample detection system; and 
 analyzing the sample for the analyte of interest with the sample detection system. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the analyte of interest includes at least one of a microorganism, a parasite, a biomolecule, a chemical, a metal ion, a metal-ion-containing complex, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the diluent includes at least one of a surfactant, a rheological agent, an antimicrobial neutralizer, enrichment media, a pH buffering agent, an enzyme, an indicator molecule, sterile water, an organic solvent, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle to move a sample in the fluid path to the sample detection system includes moving the sample in the fluid path to the sample detection system without exposing the sample to ambience. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sample preparation system further comprises a filter in fluid communication with the reservoir, and further comprising filtering the liquid composition with the filter to form a filtrate, wherein the sample comprises at least a portion of the filtrate. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle includes at least one of applying positive pressure to the exterior of the deformable self-supporting receptacle, applying negative pressure to the interior of the deformable self-supporting receptacle. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable self-supporting receptacle has a sidewall having a thickness of at least 50 μm.